AN elderly couple have been left dismayed by “a complete lack of response” from police after vandals struck at their home.

Concrete slabs were hurled through two windows of the bungalow home of Michael and Jean Spriggs, in Silver Birch Avenue, Bedworth.

“It happened at 2am on Tuesday and my wife immediately phoned the police,” said Mr Spriggs, who is 77. “She was told they would not be sending anyone out and that an incident number was not available because the computer was down.

“I went to Bedworth police station the next morning and asked to speak to someone official. I was told no-one was available. When I asked for an incident number, for insurance purposes, I was informed that the computer was still down.

“It is bad enough being frightened by having your windows smashed but the attitude of the police has left me absolutely disgusted.

“I have never before, in 77 years, asked the police for any help. Now I just cannot believe their complete lack of response or, indeed, interest in what has happened to us. Since the attack, my 75-year-old wife has sat in a chair all night, with an iron bar, in case the people responsible come back.”

Mr Spriggs, a retired painter and decorator and a Freeman of the City of Coventry, says a neighbour saw two hooded teenagers running away from his home after the attack.

He added: “If the police had reacted straight away, perhaps the offenders could have been caught.”

A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: “When Mrs Spriggs contacted the police about the damage at her home in the early hours of Tuesday morning the computer system, which records incidents, was temporarily out of action during a planned upgrade.

“When this happens incident details are recorded manually on paper records and then uploaded onto the computer when it becomes available again.

“Unfortunately, the system which automatically generates crime numbers was also out of action. This matter was explained to her after details of the incident had been taken.

“Mrs Spriggs re-contacted the police later on Tuesday morning. At that time, although the main incident computer was back in service the computer system which issues crime numbers was still not working so a crime number could not be generated for her.

“As soon as the system became available again on Wednesday morning, communications centre staff started to contact people who reported crimes while the system was unavailable, to provide them with a crime number.

“If Mrs Spriggs feels that the level of service she received in reporting this incident was not what she expected we ask that she write to the Chief Inspector at the Communications Centre at Police Headquarters and the matter can be investigated.”